Canadian rowers Lindsay Jennerich and Patricia Obee, right, celebrate after winning a silver medal in the women’s lightweight double sculls at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 12, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

“Well, we’re in fourth, and I thought we’re getting a medal for sure. Our last 250 is so strong that I knew we were going to go through one (crew) at least,” said Obee.

“I could sense China and I could sense South Africa, we’ve rowed through South Africa in the last half a lot. The Chinese are pretty good sprinters and once we were through them I thought, ‘I think we’re looking at silver.'”

For Jennerich, the second place finish was even more impressive based on how first-place Netherlands rowed to win gold.

“It made me feel pretty good about getting a silver medal. It left us just finishing our last drops of gas. It felt like sprinting from the 1000. I just felt like a machine, and Obee felt like a machine.”

After finishing seventh at London 2012, the moment now is for celebration.

“We were just us out there – and us is the second best boat in the world today,” said Obee.